Demonizing the 'others' for political gain - Dove World Outreach (Koran-burning church)

[pampango]

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100826/NEWS/100829619/-1/news?p=1&tc=pg

These groups are largely moved by the impulse of xenophobia. They have a profound fear and dislike of those they regard as ‘others’. ‘Others’ (in their mindset) are usually identified by some cultural badge or symbol of identity. Often, 'others' tend to be vulnerable minorities. This makes them an attractive target for social and cultural aggression. As targets, such ‘others’ may be victimized by random acts of ethnic violence. Targeting the vulnerable would seem to be an important step in the encouragement of lethal social behavior. According to the Sun, DWO targets both Muslims and gays. The list of DWO targets may continue to expand.

Regrettably, with varying degrees of intensity, we have seen the xenophobic sectarian outlook played out in the political life of this nation. It represents an effort to use private motives for the exploitation of sectarian fears and phobias.

Many will recall that when George H. W. Bush was campaigning for the Presidency in 1988, his campaign deftly exploited the Willie Horton issue. African-Americans were thus identified with crime and represented a threat to White America. The Democrats who championed African-American interests could be seen as ‘soft’ on crime.

More recently, the Conservative elite in Arizona passed a controversial immigration bill. At the back of this issue was the exploitation of the fear of a different ‘other’; the Hispanics. This has created a visceral electoral issue.

In New York City, groups have targeted plans to build or refurbish a mosque two blocks from the World Trade Center tragedy. The Islamic group involved in this initiative is associated with the Sufi Islamic sect. The Sufis are widely regarded as tolerant and peace-loving in creed. Indeed, they have been a special target of extreme Islamic fundamentalists. This issue has now sidelined critical policy issues of central importance to the nation (i.e., the deficit, education reform, environment, etc.). Indeed, there seems to be a spinoff, in that mosques elsewhere in the country are now subject to acute xenophobic attention as well.

A significant number of politicians have jumped into the sectarian bandwagon. Are they racist and xenophobic? I do not think so. I do think that they are opportunistic. They know that sectarian fears and insecurities have electoral traction. Politicians are in politics to win. If they join the bandwagon, it is not that they are privately racist; rather, it is that they calculate electoral advantages. Once they win, sectarianism seems to vanish.

[ladjf]

1. The media has handed this preacher much more attention than

he deserved. nt